Procedure for making quick assembly coupling

ABSTRACT

AN EXPANDING-OUT TOOL AND METHOD EMPLOYS A MANDREL FOR FORMING WALL DIMPLES IN A TUBULAR COUPLING MEMBER FOR RETAINING A COLLAR NUT IN AN OPERATING POSITION THEREON. ALSO A MANDREL USING METHOD IS EMPLOYED FOR EXPANSION-SHAPING TUBULAR COUPLING MEMBERS AND FOR SECURING THEM BY EXPANSION FORCE APPLICATION WITH RESPECT TO OTHER HOLLOW COUPLING PARTS OR MEMBERS.

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PROCEDURE FOR MAKING QUICK ASSEMBLY COUPLING Oct. 12, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Feb. 28, 1969 INVENTOR. Clyde E1 Rickard mll/ewiw HIS ATTORNEYS Oct. 12, 1971 c. E. RICKARD 3,611,550

PROCEDURE FOR MAKING QUICK ASSEMBLY COUPLING Original Filed Feb. 28, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 \a I A E Fig. /6

1 anIraolaallnllluardrl't'o INVENTOR. Clyde E Rickard HIS ATTORNEYS United States Paten- ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An expanding-out tool and method employs a mandrel for forming wall dimples in a tubular coupling member for retaining a collar nut in an operating position thereon. Also a mandrel using method is employed for expansion-shaping tubular coupling members and for securing them by expansion force application with respect to other hollow coupling parts or members.

This invention relates to a fluid coupling and particularly, to a coupling for quickly connecting and disconnecting pipe members or sections which will provide a highly effective sealed joint, is flexible in its utilization and can be easily manipulated by hand. A phase of the invention deals with procedure for making an improved coupling.

This application is a division of my application Ser. No. 803,382 of Feb. 28, 1969, now Pat. No. 3,564,897 and entitled Procedure for Making Quick Assembly Coupling.

The coupling of the present invention is of a type suitable for temporary and semi-permanent pipeline connections, and may be termed an industrial type. In this connection, there has been a need for an improved coupling whose parts cannot be lost or mislaid, in the sense that they are carried by end portions of the pipe members, that will be adaptable to uneven contours, that will permit assembly and disassembly without axially-aligning the pipe members and, importantly, that is suitable for relatively thin-wall pipe or tubing members, that will provide a better securing of its parts on the pipe members, and that will assure a safe and secure joint for high pressure utilizations, such as in the neighborhood of up to about 600 p.s.i. I have been able to devise an improved coupling to meet this need and have developed an improved procedure for making it.

It has thus been an object of my invention to provide an inexpensive, strong and foolproof coupling of improved characteristics and of simplified and better construction.

Another object has been to devise a procedure for making a fluid coupling that utilizes the adjacent end portions of pipe members or tubing sections that are to be joined or connected together, which provides reinforcing for such end portions, and whose parts have an improved, secure and foolproof mounted relation with end portions of the pipe members.

A further object has been to devise an improved procedure for making a coupling joint which can be assembled by hand in a matter of seconds, and irrespective of a full axial alignment of the pipe members being joined.

A still further object has been to provide improved procedure for making a coupling construction.

These and other objects of my invention will appear to those skilled in the art from the following description, the drawings and appended claims.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a longitudinal view in elevation and partial section illustrating a coupling construction of my invention with its parts in a coupled relationship.

FIGS. 2 to 7 are fragmental side sections in elevation illustrating steps employed in forming a short length of pipe or tubing into a coupling housing body.

FIGS. 8. to 13, inclusive, are side section views in elevation illustrating steps employed in mounting the coupling housing body of FIG. 7 on the end portion of a pipe member, and shows how the housing body is secured in a permanently mounted relation wherein it projects forwardly as an integral part of and in a reinforcing mounted relationship on the end portion of the pipe member.

FIGS. 14 to 17, inclusive, are side sections in elevation illustrating step by step procedure in forming a coupling tube or nose end portion on a pipe member for reinforcing such end portion.

FIGS. 18 and 19 are side sectional views in elevation illustrating the positioning of a coupling collar or sleeve nut on the coupling nose or tube end portion of a pipe member, and procedure involved in forming retaining means in the nature of dimples or radial offsets in the end portion that cooperate with a re-entrant shoulder of the coupling nose or tube end for maintaining the coupling nut in an operating position on the pipe member.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, my coupling construction is shown securely connecting adjacent end portions of a pair of pipe or tubing members A and A in a secure and postive, fluid-sealed-oif relationship with each other. In this connection, I may provide one end portion of each pipe member with a forwardlyprojecting coupling housing body B and the opposite end portion of the same pipe member, or the adjacent end portion of an adjacent pipe member A that is to be connected therewith, with a coupling nose or tube end G. The coupling permits an axially-pivotal or askew relationship between the adjacent end portions of the pipe members A and A when they are being connected and disconnected and assures a [fluid sealed-0E relation even when they are coupled together in this relation, as well as when they are coupled together in a longitudinallyaxially aligned relation with each other.

In FIG. l, I have shown a coupling collar or nut D which is provided with an external or male threaded portion having relatively coarse threads which are adapted to engage with complementary female threads on the inside of the housing body B. The connection between the housing body B and the end portion of the pipe member A is reinforced by an inner thickness sleeve or ring part C, while the nose or coupling tube end G of the pipe member A is reinforced by an inner thickened ring or sleeve part B. A U-shaped resilient annular gasket F of a suitable resin material, such as nylon, is adapted to be carried within an inner peripheral recess or banding portion of the housing body B and, in such a manner, that it is always in a ready position to engage the nose or tube end portion of the adjacent pipe member A to define a fluid seal therewith. The fluid-sealing action is increased proportionately to the fluid pressure, since fluid flows within the inner chamber defined by opposed legs or sealing lips of the gasket F when fluid pressure is applied, to spread such legs into tight sealing-engagement between opposed cylindrical surfaces of the housing body B and the tube end G.

In providing the housing body B, as shown in FIG. 2, I may make use of a relatively heavy or thick-walled, short-length tube or cylindrical member 10. In the first operation illustrated in FIG. 3, the wall of the forward open end portion of the tube member 10 is expanded-out to provide a radially-outwardly-oifset cylindrical forward 0 open end portion 10a and a re-entrant shoulder 10b con- In the second step as illustrated in FIG. 4, I roll-in a radiallydnwardly.projecting annular groove portion d in a backwardly-spaced relation with the re-entrant shoulder portion 10b to provide an intermediate cylindrical portion 100 of the same diameter as the original member 10 and thus, of the back end portion. In the next operation illustrated in FIG. 5, the forward end portion 10e of the enlarged or expanded portion 10a is turned inwardly in a preliminary manner.

In the final operation illustrated in FIG. 6, the portion 10e is lengthened and forced inwardly-backwardly along the portion 10a to provide a cylindrical inside fold portion 10h and a double-wall thickness. As illustrated, the portion 10h is provided by turning-in the end portion 10c and flattening it against the inner periphery of the portion 10a. This produces a radially-outwardly inclined end portion 10 that is connected to the cylindrical portion 10a, and a rounded abutment or flange end portion 10g that is connected between the inclined portion 10 and the doubled-under cylindrical portion 10h.

. In the operation of FIG. 7, female threads are cut along the portion 10h and groove portions 11, 12 and 13 are formed, as by machining, within the inner periphery of the wall of the member 10 to define annular banding grooves. As will be noted from FIG. 1, each of these groove portions has a substantially rectangular base in section. The portion 13 serves as a retaining portion for the resilient annular gasket F and the portions 11 and 12 serve as longitudinally spaced-apart lock-mounting grooves for the end portion of a pipe member, such as A. As also illustrated in FIG. 1, the groove 12 defines a pair of opposed sharp edges 12a and 1211, while the groove 11 defines a sharp edge 11a that are employed as shear-lock edges in mounting the pipe; they receive outwardly-expanded portions of member A and its reinforcing ring sleeve C (see FIG. 13).

In FIG. 8 I have shown an indexing head which may carry a group of forming punches in a spaced circular relation along its face to progressively and individually efifect forming operations by turning the indexing head 15 to align the individual punches with parts being received and formed. In the operation of FIG. 8, the indexing head 15 is shown having a mounting member 16 carrying a punch 17 for expanding an end portion of the pipe member A outwardly into position within the housing body B. It will be noted that the punch 17 has a series of forwardly-stepped cylindrical portions 17b, 17c and 17b of the punch 17 to radially-outwardly expand the end portion 28 of the pipe member A into a'tight-expanded 17d that have progressively decreased diameters with respect to the main body diameter 17a of the punch.

In preparation for the operation of FIG. 8, the forward, doubled-under open end portion of the housing body B is slid within the forward opening of an angle-shaped position-limiting assembly 18. The assembly 18 has a group of holes 18a through its vertical flange to slidably position it on a series of peripherally-spaced-apart bolts 19. The bolts 19 are secured at their threaded ends 19a on the mounting 16 to project forwardly therefrom and slidably receive the assembly 18.

The assembly 18 is normally urged to the forward position of FIG. 8 in abutment with heads 19b of the bolts 19 by a U-shaped tension spring 20 that is secured at its ends between the mounting 16 and the assembly 18. The end portion of the pipe member A that is to be mounted with respect to the housing body B may, as shown in FIG. 8, be carried by portable parts of a gripper 21 and moved to an aligned relation with the back end portion of the coupling body B into abutment with a position stop gauge 22. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the stop 22 is raised and the punch and housing body assembly are moved longitudinally-endwise to move the back end portion of the housing body B over the end portion of the pipe member and thus, the end portion of the pipe member within the back open end portion of the housing body B and, at the same time, compressing the spring 20 and sliding the assembly 18 to its baekmo t posi ion. This causes the face relationship within the back or mounting end portion of the housing body B.

In the next step of FIG. 10, I have shown a mounting 23 which also may be carried on the same indexing head 15, as carrying a punch 26 that has a forwardly-offset smaller diameter portion 26a. A reinforcing sleeve or ring C is slid endwise on the portion 26a and the punch 26 is then driven endwise or axially-longitudinally within the assembly provided by the step of FIG. 9 and which is being held by the gripper 21, see the position indicated in FIG. 11. This operation aligns the reinforcing sleeve C in its proper position in the expanded portion 28 of the pipe member A and with respect to the banding grooves 11 and 12.

In the operation of FIG. 12, I have shown a mounting 24 for a third punch 27 on which the pipe end assembly of FIG. 11 is moved axially. The punch 27 has an offset cylindrical portion of smaller diameter 27a which is employed to radially expand the reinforcing ring C, the open end portion of the pipe member A, and the open end mounting portion of the coupling housing body outwardly together about 3 percent.

In the next step of FIG. 13, a punch of slightly larger diameter introduced through the front end portion of the housing body B is employed to radially-outwardly expansion-deform or displace full wall thickness portions or areas of both the forward expanded-out portion 28 of the pipe member A and of the reinforcing part C into the grooves 11 and 12 of the housing body B. This produces a slightly outwardly-offset latching-banding portion 29 in the sleeve C in alignment with the groove portion 12. A forwardly-sloped annular shoulder or enlarged portion on the punch is employed to turn-in end or flange edge portion 30 in alignment with the groove portion 11. In addition, an outwardly-offset full wall thickness portion 28a of the pipe member A is moved into the groove portion 12 and an end or flange edge portion 28b is moved into the groove portion 11. The edge 11a of the groove portion 11 provides a lock shear edge directly with the portion 28b, of the pipe member A and indirectly with the portion 30 of the ring portion C. The opposite edges 12a and 12b of the groove portion 12 provides spacedapart lock shear edges with the portion 28a of the pipe member A and thus, indirectly with the portion 29 of the reinforcing sleeve C. If desired, a roller-expanding or peening tool of a general type shown in the Hempel Pat. No. 2,898,171 or the Wallace Pat. No. 2,835,309 may be employed for providing the portions 28a and 29.

In FIG. 14, I prefer to first slide an annular lock nut or collar D on the end portion of an adjacent pipe member A which is to be employed as the tube or nose end part of the coupling. After this has been done, I employ a punch 36 carried by a mounting 35 which also may be carried on an indexing head, such as described above. The punch is driven endwise into the end of the pipe member A' to form a radially-expanded-out open end portion 34.

In the next step illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16, a second punch 38, which is positioned on mounting 37, is used to carry a reinforcing ring or sleeve E on its end portion 38a of reduced diameter to an endwise forced-in position within the expanded portion 34 (see FIG. 16). For the third operation of FIG. 17, I have shown a punch and die assembly 41, 42 and 43, secured on mounting 40 by a mounting pin 44. The punch part 42 of the assembly has an enlarged cylindrical back portion which, as shown in FIG. 17, not only expands the reinforcing ring E into the offset wall portion 34, but cooperates with a forwardly-grooved or stop portion 41a of die part 41 to turn-in or flange-inwardly the end or edge 34a of the pipe member A. It will be noted that a re-entrant shoulder 34b and the turned-in flange 34a define opposed spaced-apart locking edges for the opposite edges or ends of the ring E. This completes the forming of the tube or nose end of the'coupling, except for providing means to retain the lock nut D in an operative position on the pipe member A.

In FIGS. 18 and 19, I have shown steps of radiallyoutwardly expanding a wall area to provide annularlyaligned, radially-opposed and peripherally spaced-apart dimples 50 in the wall thickness of the pipe member A behind its coupling nose or tube end portion G. This means comprises a series of substantially rectangular-shaped tap keys 47 which extend radially-outwardly and have rounded lug or pin ends 47a at their extreme forward end portions which displace or form dimples 50 in the wall of the pipe member A. Each key 47. has a T-shaped, inclined, bottom or inner end portion 47b which is slidably-positioned in complementary slots 48a carried by a coneshaped mandrel 48. An end closure plate 49 is secured by bolts 49a on the end of the mandrel 48' to limit the forward advance of the keys 47 along forwardly-declining slot or groove portions 48a.

In FIG. 18, when the keys are in a forward-abutting relationship with the plate 49, they are in their inoperative positions in which they are inserted within and removed from the open end portion of the pipe member A. The mandrel 48 is carried by a shaft 51 which extends backwardly therefrom and is positively advanced and retracted by a fluid motor 52 to move the mandrel from its back position of FIG. 18 to its forward position of FIG. 19, and thus advance the keys 47 along their slides into abutment with back end stop portions 48b, at which time, the dimples 50 are formed. Upon the completion of the dimpling operation, the motor 52 then retracts the mandrel 48 so that the assembly may be removed.

A guide housing or mounting 46 is adapted, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, to fit within the reinforcing ring E and has a forwardly-converging cone-shaped bore 46a within which the mandrel 48 is adapted to move and by which it is limited as to its maximum forward position of FIG. 19. When the dimples 50 have been formed, the entire tool assembly, including the guide mounting 46, is withdrawn from within the nose or tube end G of the pipe member A. It will be noted that the dimples 50 permit a certain amount of free, longitudinally-axial movement of the coupling nut D, but at the same time, retain it in an operative position thereon, so that it is always ready for assembling the coupling. The nut D, by reason of its in-turned front end flange portion 25b of smaller inner diameter, cannot move backwardly past the dimples 50 and cannot move forwardly past them by reason of the abutment of such flange portion 25b with an annular re-entrant shoulder 34b of the outwardly-expanded-out portion 34 of the pipe member A. It will be noted that the outer diameter of the dimples 50 and of the re-entrant shoulder 34b is greater than the inner diameter of the flange 25b.

As shown in FIG. 1, the coupling nut D has a cylindrical portion 25 provided with relatively coarse male threads 25a which terminate at the in-turned, flange end portion 25b. Although the nut D may normally be secured in position and loosened to assemble and disassemble the coupling by manually gripping its rounded shoulder portion 250, I have shown radial holes 25d through the portion 250 within which a nail or lever pin may be inserted to facilitate its turning action, if and when desired.

If desired, before the pipe member A is inserted within the housing body B, a cement such as a mastic, may be painted within the banding portion 12 to insure a full fluid-seal between the parts A and B, irrespective of any irregularity, such as scratches. However, the forming and assembling operations are such that a highly mechanically-secure joint is provided between the parts A and B, such that they will withstand a bursting pressure of about 1800 p.s.i., thus making the coupling suitable for fluid pressures of up to about 600 p.s.i. A locked, tight secured 6 relationship is attained irrespective of whether or not a cement is used at the portion 12.

It will be apparent that the coupling collar or nut D may be formed from a short length tubing piece or member of cylindrical shape. The outwardly-projecting rounded shoulder 250 may be formed by expanding and slightly bending its back edge portion, and the in-turned forward flange 25b may be formed by turning the forward edge of the piece or member radiallyainwardly. The cylindrical portion 25 may constitute the original diameter of the tube member and the relatively coarse threads 25a may be machined on its outer periphery to provide threads that are complementary with the threads 14 of the coupling housing body B.

With particular reference to FIG. 1, the cylindrical portion and the annular inwardly-projecting shoulder 10d provide a pivotal, position-retaining joint for the rounded in-turned flange portion 34a of the nose part G, such that axial-pivotal movement is permitted between the adjacent ends of the pipe members A and A that are to be connected together. The construction is such that the pipe members may be tightly secured together in an askew relationship at their adjacent ends to allow for irregular contour of the ground on which they are laid. Irrespective of whether the adjacent end portions of the pipe members making up the joint are fully longitudinallyaxially aligned, as shown in FIG. 1, or have a somewhat askew relationship, they are securely held in position in a foolproof manner by my construction and with a positive sealing relationship by the gasket F.

The coupling construction of my invention is easy to install and operate, being highly suitable for portable supply lines over land of uneven contour. The union connection action at the joint provides flexibility and when desired a particular pipe length or section can be quickly and easily removed without disturbing the rest of the line, since each coupling assembly provides a separate break joint. There are no lugs, latches or other gadgets to break off, jam or wear, or loose parts to pick up or assemble and become misplaced. The gasket may be of a suitable resilient resin which is oil resistant, so that the coupling can be used for gas and oil lines. The gasket F fits snugly within the coupling housing body B and will not dislodge during transportation, installation or disassembly.

Employing my coupling construction, a joint can be connected and disconnected in a fraction of the time required with a conventional coupling. Assembly is accomplished by inserting the tube end G in the coupling housing body B and then screwing-in and tightening-down the coupling nut D. The average assembly time for a two-man crew averages 2 to 15 seconds per joint, while disassembly is even faster. The lines utilizing my coupling have been employed for temporary or semi-permanent portable lines for transporting petroleum products, gas, water, steam, compressed air, mud, etc.

The tube end G is self-centering and the cooperating nut and coupling threads are somewhat widely spaced and coarse, so that assembly can be effected even when the ends of the pipe members are in a somewhat askew relationship. The coupling parts serve to reinforce the ends of the pipe members and screw threads, welded, and nut types of joints between the coupling parts and the pipe members are made unnecessary. The construction is particularly suitable for the utilization of relatively thin-wall pipe members, in that reinforcing sleeves or collars are provided and have a secure, mechanically-locked mounting, by reason of the expansion fitting provided and the use of longitudinally-opposed, offset, spaced-apart, interfitting banding wall portions between the reinforcing sleeves or rings and the end portions of the pipe members.

I claim:

l. A method of reinforcing an open end portion of a relatively thin-wall pipe member which comprises, radiallyoutwardly expanding the wall of the open end portion of the pipe member and forming an expanded cylindrical open end portion of enlarged diameter connected, by a re-entrant shoulder to the adjacent unexpanded Wall portion of the pipe member, moving a substantially cylindrical reinforcing ring relatively endwise within the expanded open end portion until the forward edge of the reinforcing ring lies adjacent to the re-entrant shoulder, and radially-turning the forward edge of the open end portion of the pipe member into tight engagement with the forward edge of the reinforcing ring while expansion-securing the reinforcing ring within the open en portion of the pipe member.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein, the wall of the open end portionof the pipe member is expansiondeformed annularly to define a pair of longitudinallyaxially spaced-apart'cooperating locking-securingedges With adjacent portions of the wall of the reinforcing ring. 3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the radial turning-in of the outer edge of the expanded portion is effected while forcing the inner edge of said ring sleeve into tight engagement with the re-entrant shoulder.

U .4. A method as defined in claim 1wherein,'the ring is asleeve carn'ed on a punch endwise into position within the expanded portion, and said outer shoulder is formed by advancing a punch and die assembly endwise into said ring sleeve and about the expanded portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,370,201 ,2/1945 Siesel 29-511UX I 2,638,664 5/1953 Maxson 29--5ll UX 2,843,926 7/1958' Turner 29511 7 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,083,211 6/1960 "Germany 295ll CHARLES T. MOON, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. XJR. 29520, 522

mg UNITED STATES PA'IENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,61 1 ,550 Dated October 12 1971 Inventor(s) Clvde E. Rickard It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1 line 62, before "by" insert --and disessembled--.

Column 3, line 65, change "portable" to --partible--.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of March 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOI'TSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

